An epidemic of ignorance

Tour operators in the World Heritage Site, the Okavango Delta, are reporting that their bookings for next year have dropped by between 30 and 50 percent.

The peak tourism period, between May and September, was a damp squib for many operators who witnessed a downturn in arrivals. The reason? Fears over the Ebola outbreak in West Africa!  Operators say because of tourists’ ignorance, fears stoked by wild media reports in the West and misguided booking agents, Africa is again being viewed as one country.  The operators have repeatedly pointed out that Botswana is far removed from the outbreak and that it was among the first countries to introduce Ebola restrictions.  They have also highlighted the country’s comparatively robust health care system and its unsurpassed adherence to World Health Organisation’s guidelines.